A MAGISTRATE and her daughter have been disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.

Gail Bradshaw, 64, and Nicola Bradshaw, 29, both of Minehead Avenue, Leigh, were found guilty after causing unnecessary suffering to two West Highland white terriers.

One of them was found wearing a child's jumper which was stuck to her weeping skin.

Gail Bradshaw has been a magistrate at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates' Court for 30 years.

The two defendants were sentenced at Preston Magistrates' Court yesterday, Tuesday after being found guilty in a two-day trial last month.

They were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to West Highland Poppy on a day or number of dates between April 1, 2015 and September 29, 2017.

They were also convicted of the the same charge to West Highland Holly from November 29, 2016 and September 29, 2017.

In each of the cases they did not make sure care and attention was not provided for their chronic and severe skin conditions.

RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: “The severity of the skin conditions and fur loss suffered by these dogs was the worst I’ve seen in my 15-year career.

"They were in an absolutely shocking state.

“Poppy was by far the worst. She was wearing a child’s jumper and it was filthy.

"When we tried to remove it at the vets it had stuck to her skin around her armpits, chest and front legs, where it had been weeping.

“She had been suffering the longest, veterinary evidence of her skin condition goes all the way back to 2014.

“A new treatment plan was put in place in March 2015 and the vet advised that Poppy needed to be brought back 7-10 days later but that never happened.

“Gail Bradshaw said she didn’t think the vet treatment was working so decided to self treat the condition after seeking advice from the internet and friends instead.

“When Holly started to get similar symptoms in early 2017 she was never taken to the vet.

"This is despite both dogs having 'ultimate’ Petplan insurance which could have covered the treatment.”

The Bradshaws have also been ordered to complete a 12-month community order including 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £500 in costs.

Inspector McDonald added: “I hope the message that comes from this case is that if your pet has any health problems, you must not use or rely on the internet to try and self diagnose and treat your pet but seek the professional and qualified advice and treatment of a vet.

"If money is an issue, there are vets out there for those on a low income."

Both Poppy and Holly are in the care of the RSPCA's Liverpool branch, where they have improved and they are in the process of having new homes found for them.

If you are interested in rehoming them contact the branch on 0151 486 1706.